Read Genesis 39:1-23 at Bible Gateway.
Hebrew paragraph division
Gen 39:1-23 {p} Joseph departed from his brothers among the Egyptians
Gen 39:1-23 chiastic structure
Gen 38:1-39:23 {s+p} strong theme
Original Hebrew
And YHVH was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that YHVH was with him, and that YHVH made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found favor in his sight, and ministered to him. And his master appointed him overseer over his house, and all that he had, he put into his hand. Gen 39:2-4
prosperous, to prosper
Strong’s H6743, tsalach, a primitive root meaning “to advance, to prosper.” The ancient pictographs are tsadey + lamed + chet:
tsadey = the trail, thus a man concealed, journey, chase, hunt
lamed = the shepherd’s staff, thus teach, yoke, to, bind
chet = the wall, thus outside, divide, half
The story the pictographs are telling is of concealed (tsadey) authority (lamed) advancing despite barriers (chet). The root was originally a military term used in connection to a concealed military party progressing despite barriers such as rivers or walls. Thus derivatives of the root include shadow, shade, as an army takes advantage of the concealment keeping to the shadows affords; spear, as the weapon wielded by an army; and even bowl, as the clay is so formed so that it sides advance upward from the base.
I find it interesting that concrete opposites keep showing up in the life of Joseph. His father loves him, his brothers hate him. Judah’s firstborn is wicked, Tamar is righteous. Joseph is cast down by men, and advanced up by God.
favor
Strong’s H2580, chen, an abstract concept meaning “grace,” from Strong’s H2603, chanan, a primitive root meaning “to be inclined toward, to be favorably inclined.” The ancient pictographs are chet + nun + nun:
chet = the wall, thus outside, divide, half
nun = the seed, thus continue, heir, son
nun = the seed, thus continue, heir, son
The story the ancient pictographs are telling is of the wall (chet) which continues (nun) to benefit the children (nun). In ancient days the family tents of the clan were arranged in a large circle, forming a wall. This circular wall, a wall which continues, enclosed the area of safety for the children of the clan within. This was their home: a place of safety, beauty, favor, and lovingkindness. According to The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon, the English word “home” is from the ch-n root, transposing the m sound for the n over time. Chen, grace, is the same grace that Noah found in the eyes of YHVH (Gen 6:8).
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